Scrum Values: The Foundation for High-Performing Agile Teams
The five Scrum values form the ethical and behavioral foundation that enables Scrum teams to deliver exceptional results. While the Scrum framework provides the structure through roles, events, and artifacts, the Scrum values breathe life into that structure by guiding how team members interact, make decisions, and approach their work.
Quick Answer: The Five Scrum Values
| Value | Core Meaning | Team Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Commitment | Dedication to team goals | Team commits to Sprint Goal and supporting each other |
| Focus | Concentrated effort | Team focuses on Sprint work and Sprint Goal |
| Openness | Transparency in all aspects | Team is open about work, progress, and challenges |
| Respect | Valuing each person | Team respects each other as capable, independent people |
| Courage | Doing the right thing | Team has courage to tackle tough problems and conflicts |
Why Scrum Values Matter
Without strong values, Scrum becomes a hollow set of ceremonies. The Scrum Guide emphasizes that when values are embodied by the Scrum Team and the people they work with, the three pillars of empirical process control - transparency, inspection, and adaptation - come to life and build trust.
Values Enable the Framework:
- Commitment enables reliable Sprint planning and goal achievement
- Focus prevents context-switching and maximizes productivity
- Openness creates transparency required for inspection
- Respect builds psychological safety for honest communication
- Courage empowers teams to raise concerns and make difficult decisions
How Values Connect to Scrum Practices
Each Scrum event and artifact is designed to reinforce these values:
- Sprint Planning: Team demonstrates commitment by agreeing to a Sprint Goal
- Daily Scrum: Team shows openness about progress and impediments
- Sprint Review: Team exhibits courage by showing work to stakeholders
- Sprint Retrospective: Team demonstrates respect by hearing all perspectives
Building a Values-Driven Team Culture
Strong Scrum values don't appear overnight. Teams must intentionally cultivate these behaviors through:
- Modeling: Scrum Master and leaders demonstrate values consistently
- Reinforcement: Recognizing and celebrating values-aligned behavior
- Reflection: Discussing values during Sprint Retrospectives
- Accountability: Addressing behavior that contradicts the values
Explore each value in depth below to understand how to embody them in your daily Scrum practice.
Scrum Values